Distribution and possible transmission of ampicillin- and nalidixic acid-resistant Eschericia coli within the broiler industry

TY - JOUR

T1 - Distribution and possible transmission of ampicillin- and nalidixic acid-resistant Eschericia coli within the broiler industry

AU - Bortolaia, Valeria

AU - Bisgaard, Magne

AU - Bojesen, Anders Miki

PY - 2010/5

Y1 - 2010/5

N2 - This study was performed to determine the origin and transmission of β-lactam- and (fluoro)quinolone-resistant Escherichia coli in healthy, untreated broiler flocks. We focused on the dynamics of bacteria resistant to critically important antimicrobials for public and veterinary health in view of the possible link between antimicrobial resistant bacteria in farm animals and humans. By processing faecal samples collected with the sock method in broiler parent and broiler flocks, E. coli resistant to ampicillin and nalidixic acid were frequently isolated, while resistance to ciprofloxacin was detected at a very low frequency, and resistance to cephalosporins was not detected. Similarly, resistance to ampicillin and nalidixic acid were the only phenotypes detected in a collection of clinical E. coli isolates associated with first-week-mortality in broiler parent chicks. Although antimicrobial resistant E. coli were genetically diverse by means of amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) typing, indistinguishable isolates were present in different flocks, including isolates from broiler parent chicks, broiler parents and broilers. In the absence of apparent selective pressure, the genotypic heterogeneity that we describe is likely the consequence of multiple introductions of antimicrobial resistant bacteria into the production system. The confinement under which broilers are raised limits the possibilities of bacterial transmission among different flocks. Our findings are consistent with vertical transmission of ampicillin- and nalidixic acid-resistant E. coli through the broiler production system. The persistence of antimicrobial resistant E. coli in healthy, untreated chicken flocks emphasises the need of careful evaluation of therapeutic options at any level of the broiler production.

AB - This study was performed to determine the origin and transmission of β-lactam- and (fluoro)quinolone-resistant Escherichia coli in healthy, untreated broiler flocks. We focused on the dynamics of bacteria resistant to critically important antimicrobials for public and veterinary health in view of the possible link between antimicrobial resistant bacteria in farm animals and humans. By processing faecal samples collected with the sock method in broiler parent and broiler flocks, E. coli resistant to ampicillin and nalidixic acid were frequently isolated, while resistance to ciprofloxacin was detected at a very low frequency, and resistance to cephalosporins was not detected. Similarly, resistance to ampicillin and nalidixic acid were the only phenotypes detected in a collection of clinical E. coli isolates associated with first-week-mortality in broiler parent chicks. Although antimicrobial resistant E. coli were genetically diverse by means of amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) typing, indistinguishable isolates were present in different flocks, including isolates from broiler parent chicks, broiler parents and broilers. In the absence of apparent selective pressure, the genotypic heterogeneity that we describe is likely the consequence of multiple introductions of antimicrobial resistant bacteria into the production system. The confinement under which broilers are raised limits the possibilities of bacterial transmission among different flocks. Our findings are consistent with vertical transmission of ampicillin- and nalidixic acid-resistant E. coli through the broiler production system. The persistence of antimicrobial resistant E. coli in healthy, untreated chicken flocks emphasises the need of careful evaluation of therapeutic options at any level of the broiler production.

KW - Former LIFE faculty

KW - Escherichia coli

KW - antimicrobial resistance

KW - Poultry

KW - Vertical transmission

KW - AFLP

U2 - 10.1016/j.vetmic.2009.10.024

DO - 10.1016/j.vetmic.2009.10.024

M3 - Journal article

SN - 0378-1135

VL - 142

SP - 379

EP - 386

JO - Veterinary Microbiology

JF - Veterinary Microbiology

IS - 3-4

ER -